In the same week as Blake Shelton releases his fifth studio album, Startin' Fires, People Magazine has announced him as one of 2008's "Sexiest Men Alive" in their annual "Sexiest Men Alive" issue. The issue hits stands this Friday, Nov. 21.

Shelton says about his appeal in the issue, "A well worn truck. The wussiest thing a guy can do is drive a clean truck. Dents, scratches and mud – that's manly."

On Tuesday, Shelton released his fifth studio album, Startin' Fires. Shelton will be performing "She Wouldn't Be Gone" on NBC's Today Show on Friday, November 21.

The news must make girlfriend Miranda Lambert proud.

Labels: Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift's new album Fearless bulldozes the competition as the Big Machine album swoops in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 592,000. That's the biggest sales week for a country album since Eagles' Long Road out of Eden started with 711,000 in November 2007.

Aside from Eagles, since Nielsen SoundScan set up shop in 1991, only five other country acts have racked up bigger weeks than Swift: Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts. Excluding Long Road, which was sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores, Swift's bow is the best for a core country act since Rascal's Me and My Gang started with 722,000 in April 2006.

Swift was a force of nature in the digital realm, too. Fearless moved 129,000 album downloads, the fourth-biggest week for a digital album since SoundScan began tracking them in 2004.

The young country artist also has the #1 Hot Country Single with "Love Story." She closes the Billboard charts for the year of 2008 on top of the Billboard 200, Billboard Top Country Albums, and Hot Country Singles charts.

Labels: Taylor Swift

Luke Bryan just landed a sponsorship deal with Miller Lite. The official sponsorship starts this week and will run through December 31, 2009.

"The Bryan family and Miller Lite go way way back," chuckles Bryan. "This is an amazing opportunity to be in partnership with such a long standing solid American brand like Miller Lite. I look forward to working with them."

The partnership will include on-pack product placement, touring, contesting, and downloads to cross promote Luke Bryan and Miller Lite in Wal-Mart stores nationwide. Bryan will make in-store stops at various Longhorn Steakhouse restaurants as part of the partnership that will cross promote him and Miller Lite in Wal-Mart stores.

The first on-pack promotion will include a physical copy of "All My Friends Say"(where legal), and is in stores now. The promotion will run through Dec. 31 of this year .

Labels: Luke Bryan

We will be there LIVE -- it will be an incredible show for sure. Shania will be there. Will you? Reba is going to sing with Brooks & Dunn. Are you gonna watch? If, God forbid, for some reason you can't watch or the power goes out, we will be Twittering from the show. The link is: http://www.twitter.com/countryondemand . Enjoy the show guys!!!

Superstar Reba McEntire has signed with The Valory Music Co.

The move reunites the entertainer with industry leader Scott Borchetta, now President & CEO of Big Machine Records and The Valory Music Co.

During MCA Nashville's heyday as 'Label of the Decade' in the 90s (of which Borchetta was Sr. VP of Promotion), McEntire forged a path of airplay, sales and touring dominance that set the bar and paved the way for other female country artists.

McEntire and Borchetta achieved amazing results during two different stints together at MCA Nashville that started with McEntire's phenomenal next-level release Rumor Has It. While working with Borchetta at MCA Nashville, McEntire earned 14 #1 singles and sold over 22 million albums.

"It is as if a day hasn't even passed,"says Borchetta. "The toughest thing about leaving MCA-Nashville again was leaving behind this relationship that I value so much. It is with great honor that I announce today that Reba McEntire will now exclusively record for The Valory Music Co."

"I am thrilled to be joining the Valory team. Scott and I worked together on some of the biggest singles of my career, and I am excited to renew our partnership," McEntire states.

The announcement comes on the cusp of The Valory Music Co.'s one-year anniversary. The upstart sister label to Big Machine Records, has earned astounding success in the year since its launch with a #1 Country debut album by multi-platinum recording artist Jewel and a three-week #1 single by Country soul singer Jimmy Wayne.

McEntire's debut single on The Valory Music Co. will impact Country radio in early Spring 2009 with her new studio album to follow later that summer. The new release follows her Reba Duets release, which debuted at #1 on both pop and country album charts. McEntire’s last 13 studio albums have all achieved platinum plus status.

Labels: Reba McEntire

Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman and international superstar Hugh Jackman, who are co-starring in the upcoming movie "Australia," will present an award together on "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards." The Awards air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wed., Nov. 12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Previously announced performers include co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, along with Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney with The Wailers, the Eagles, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and a surprise performer.

Previously announced presenters include Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Heidi Newfield, Jake Owen, John Rich, Swift, Josh Turner, Jimmy Wayne, Lee Ann Womack, Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, and a surprise presenter.

"We are thrilled to have two of Hollywood's biggest stars join us for 'Country Music's Biggest Night,'" said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We know our fans and viewers will be excited to see Nicole and Hugh on the Awards."

Kidman and Jackman's movie "Australia," will be in theaters on Nov. 26.

Labels: CMA Awards

Superstar Tim McGraw will serve as host on his first appearance on "Saturday Night Live" on Nov. 22, 2008. McGraw becomes the first country music artist of the millennium to host the show; others include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks.

"SNL" airs on NBC. Check local listings.

"I'm looking forward to hosting the show," said McGraw. "I'm not exactly known for my comedy but then again if you've been to one of my shows you might feel differently. Hopefully hanging around Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon and Jon Favreau is good training."

McGraw will appear in the Warner Brothers film "Four Christmases," with Vaughn, Witherspoon and Favreau, in theaters on Nov. 26. He also has a new Coty cologne, "McGraw By Tim McGraw," and a children's book, "My Little Girl," in stores now.

Labels: Tim McGraw

The CMA announced additional performers and presenters today for "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards.

Darius Rucker, previously announced as a presenter, will instead give his debut CMA Awards performance. New presenters added to the lineup are Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Jake Owen, John Rich, and Jimmy Wayne. "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards" airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Previously announced performers include co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, along with Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney with The Wailers, the Eagles, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and a surprise guest.

Previously announced presenters include Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Heidi Newfield, Swift, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, and a surprise guest.

"The lineup for this year's CMA Awards is outstanding," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We know our viewers will enjoy this mix of Country Music artists and celebrities."

Gill hosted the CMA Awards for 12 years from 1992-2003. The two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year (1993, 1994) has won 18 CMA Awards, and is second only to Brooks & Dunn for having won the most CMA Awards in history.

Labels: CMA Awards, Darius Rucker, John Rich, Vince Gill

Labels: CMA Awards

"Country Music's Biggest Night" grows even bigger as more celebrities and artists join the lineup of performers and presenters for "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards." Recording artist Miley Cyrus, star of Disney's "Hannah Montana" returns to the CMA Awards to present a trophy alongside her
father, television co-star, and duet partner Billy Ray Cyrus. They previously appeared together on the CMA Awards as presenters in 2006. "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards" airs live from the Sommet Center inNashville, Wednesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Performers announced today are Jason Aldean and James Otto (each nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year) and Martina McBride (nominated for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year). Additional presenters will include Heidi Newfield, Darius Rucker (in his CMA Awards debut), Josh Turner, and Lee Ann Womack. Previously announced performer Taylor Swift will also present.

In addition to presenting an on-air Award, Newfield will also co-present the pre-telecast Awards, including the CMA Broadcast Awards, with Premiere Radio Networks radio personality Blair Garner, host of "After Mid-Nite with Blair Garner."

Previously announced performers include co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, along with Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and The Wailers, the Eagles, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Sugarland, Swift, and Keith Urban. Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon is the previously announced presenter.

"The CMA Awards showcases the depth of our format to the entire nation," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "These performers and presenters are all unique artists who come together under the banner of Country Music."

Labels: Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Jason Aldean, Josh Turner, Martina McBride, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift

Hank Williams Jr., who has been out on the campaign trail for the last several weeks, has recorded a special version of his classic "Family Tradition" with a new slant. The new version is in support of the Republican Presidential ticket McCain-Palin. The song is available for download exclusively with iTunes.

"I am not making any money off of this!" states Williams. "I am donating all the money to the Republican National Committee to help support the McCain-Palin campaign."

Click here to buy the song.

Labels: Hank Williams Jr.

With this current election season we have learned that we all have a voice and opinion that can be heard by a vote. Well, Warner Brothers Records recognizes country fans and their opinions with a great new idea they have come up with- they want you, yes you, to help them pick the music from some of your favorite artists and to possibly even determine the next big star to come from Warner Bros. Records.

It's simple to join, just log onto http://www.wbrnashville.com/arteam and sign up. Then occassionally the label will send you demos of songs and let you decide whether or not they are radio or even album worthy! Also, you will also be able to vote on which song the label should send to radio for your favorite artist. This is an opportunity no country fans have had before and you can be one of the first to be an A&R representative from one of the hottest labels in town. Do not pass this opportunity up, join today!